A Guide to Australian Rules Football

Written by Viator, August 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Sporting Event, Tip - Dos & Don'ts, Stadium

One of the best ways to get beneath the skin of a country is through sport, and when you’re talking Australia, and Melbourne in particular, that sport would have to be Australian Rules Football.
Melbourne is famously sports mad, and every year from March through September the only word around town is the ‘footy’.

In a nutshell, this particular game of football pitches two teams of 18 players against each other, their sole aim to get possession of an oval-shaped football and kick it through the goal posts. This rough and ready contact sport sees players handballing, bouncing, catching and doing anything in their power to possess the ball. The game is fast and furious, and passionately followed by the screaming fans in the stands.

While Melbourne is the home of Aussie Rules Football, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the game’s heartland, you can also catch games in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Launceston.

The best way to get to grips with the ins and outs of this notoriously exciting and rule-driven game is to catch a match live in Melbourne with a seasoned local, at either the MCG or Etihad Stadium. They’ll help explain the rules, share tips and tales about the game, and introduce you to the essential half-time ritual of enjoying a meat pie with ketchup, washed down with a local beer.

For a behind-the-scenes look at Aussie Rules, take the Sports Lovers Tour of Melbourne. You’ll tour the famous MCG and visit Melbourne’s many other iconic sporting venues – Flemington Racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup horse race, the Aquatic Centre, take a drive around the Albert Park F1 Grand Prix racetrack and have lunch at Etihad Stadium. Choose the Brewery Tour combo to include a taste testing of world-famous Foster’s beer.

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All A Guide to Australian Rules Football Reviews

Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Sports Lovers Tours of Melbourne, Australia

What a great day we had. From our tour guide for the whole tour plus the tour guide at the MCG plus the awesome lunch at Etihad. Honestly worth the money everyone.

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Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Sports Lovers Tours of Melbourne, Australia

tour conducted very relaxed and informed way

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Sports Lovers Tours of Melbourne, Australia

Fantastic tour.
Efficient on time and great tour guide.
If you are a sports fan you will love this. Everything from architecture, history to modern day. You see the members areas and change rooms. Stories are told.
The lunch was also a surprise, it was fresh, tasty and yummy.
I really enjoyed the tour.

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